Family & Relationships
Domestic violence lawyers help people seek protection orders, and act for people responding to applications.
Each state has its own protection order scheme, called AVOs in NSW, intervention orders in Victoria, DVOs in Queensland and restraining orders in WA. Police can apply on your behalf, or you can apply yourself. A lawyer can explain the conditions, represent you at court and connect the order with any family law proceedings.
Protection orders can stop threats, contact and harassment quickly. For respondents, an order can affect housing, parenting time, firearms licences and some jobs.
Each state has its own scheme: AVOs in NSW, intervention orders in Victoria, DVOs in Queensland, restraining orders in WA and SA. Orders are made in state local or magistrates courts and are nationally recognised under the National Domestic Violence Order Scheme.
Domestic Violence & AVOs firms in the directory
631 firms
Swan Hill, VIC · Mallee
Mallee Sexual Assault Unit provides legal services in Swan Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Assault & Violent Offences and Partner & Family Visas.
Belmore, NSW · Southern Sydney
Mary Salama Lawyer & Conveyancer Belmore provides legal services in Belmore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Building & Construction.
Innisfail, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Mary Salama Lawyer & Conveyancer Belmore provides legal services in Innisfail, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Building & Construction.
Tully, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Mary Salama Lawyer & Conveyancer Belmore provides legal services in Tully, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Building & Construction.
Drayton, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Mitchell Lawyers provides legal services in Drayton, QLD. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Family Law and Parenting & Child Custody.
Strathmore, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Moonee Valley Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Strathmore, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Commercial Property & Leasing.
Mandurah, WA · Perth South
NashClavey - Mandurah provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Powers of Attorney & Guardianship and Probate & Estate Administration.
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
National Collections provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Debt Recovery, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Norris Law provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Roma, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
On Call Lawyers Australia provides legal services in Roma, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Orange, NSW · Central West & Orana
Orange Family Support Service provides legal services in Orange, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Building & Construction and Wills & Estates.
Bathurst, NSW · Central West & Orana
Orange Family Support Service provides legal services in Bathurst, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Building & Construction and Wills & Estates.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Oxen Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Westmeadows, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Ozcan & Co Conveyancing Services provides conveyancing services in Westmeadows, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Peter Lunt & Associates provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Assault & Violent Offences.
Forbes, NSW · Central West & Orana
Philip Gilderdale - Solicitor & Conveyancer provides legal services in Forbes, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Drink & Drug Driving and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Port Augusta, SA · Eyre, Yorke & Mid North
Port Augusta Magistrates Court provides legal services in Port Augusta, SA. Listed practice areas include Traffic Offences, Criminal Law and Drink & Drug Driving.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Potts Bill provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Criminal Law and Traffic Offences.
Subiaco, WA · Perth CBD
Pragma Legal provides legal services in Subiaco, WA. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Professional Negligence.
Balwyn North, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Probate Professionals The provides legal services in Balwyn North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
R & J LAWYERS provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Property & Conveyancing.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Rachel Storey & Associates provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Richmond, NSW · Western Sydney
Rafton Family Lawyers provides legal services in Richmond, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
Randall Bell Lawyer provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Child Protection & Care Matters, Criminal Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Understand the next step
Tell the lawyer whether you need protection, have been served with an application or already have an order. Use a safe method of contact and make the next hearing date clear at the outset.
If someone is in immediate danger, call 000. A directory enquiry is not an emergency service or confirmation that representation has been arranged.
Explain the relationship history, current arrangements and outcome you want. Identify immediate concerns and provide every existing order or agreement.
Discuss negotiation and family dispute resolution. Parenting applications generally involve prior dispute resolution unless an exception applies; ask the lawyer to assess the appropriate process.
Ask how an agreement would be documented and implemented. Clarify who handles related transfers, finance and estate-planning work.
Ask for separate estimates for advice, negotiation, document preparation and court work. A fixed divorce-application fee does not necessarily cover parenting or financial disputes.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Highlight court dates, proposed travel or relocation and any planned property sale. Ask which time limits apply to your particular issues rather than assuming there is one deadline for everything.
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.
Good to know
No. A protection order is a civil order. Breaching it, however, is a criminal offence.
Call 000. Police can make or seek urgent orders. For support, 1800RESPECT is available 24 hours.
Not always. A simple divorce application can be filed online without one. It's worth getting advice before you apply if you have children, shared property or superannuation, because divorce starts the clock on time limits for property claims.
Married couples generally have 12 months from the date the divorce becomes final. De facto couples generally have two years from separation. After that you need the court's permission, which is not guaranteed.